Tag Archives: European Commission

EU Seeks Public Comments on Policies for Anti-money Laundering and Counter Financing Terrorism

On May 5, 2020, the European Commission published (i) the Communication of the Action Plan (AP) for a comprehensive EU policy on the prevention of money laundering and financing terrorism (AML/CFT); (ii) the Delegated Regulation updating the countries identified as high risk countries for AML/CFT; and (iii) the methodology for the identification of high risk … Continue Reading

Coronavirus COVID-19 – Italy Rachets Up

What Has Changed? Up to now, European Governments have followed an approach to tackling Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on three main elements: closing down the main public interactions (retail, hospitality, sports) except those necessary for food and healthcare; encouraging/requiring people to work remotely where they can, and to stay away from work if not … Continue Reading

European Commission – Get to Know the Ursula von der Leyen (VDL) Commission and Priorities

After a lengthy procedure and a few unexpected changes within the commissioners list from below (i.e. rejection of the French, Romanian and Hungarian nominees) which led to a delay of the prompt start of the new commission mandate, the new Ursula von der Leyen (VDL) Commission officially took office on December 1, 2019, without a … Continue Reading

EU Updates Its List of Sanctioned Entities

In October 2018, the EU decided to amend its list of sanctioned entities and persons in the following countries: Burundi, Guinea and North Korea. Further, the European Commission added new persons to sanctions directed against the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida organizations, and removed restrictions imposed on one Iraqi entity. The up-to-date consolidated list of all entities and people subject to EU … Continue Reading

EU Amends the Blocking Regulations to Counter US Sanctions Against Iran

The amended EU Blocking Regulation entered into force on August 8. The amendment extended the scope of US sanctions against Iran with which EU citizens or entities must not comply. In addition to the updated EU Blocking Regulation, the European Commission issued: Guidance Note — Questions and Answers: adoption of update of the Blocking Statute Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) … Continue Reading

European Commission Published a Draft Guidance on the Internal Compliance Program

The European Commission published its draft guidance on the internal effective export control compliance programs. The guidance is subject to public consultation with all interested  stakeholders. In order to take part in the consultation, it is necessary to submit a contribution via the on-line survey.… Continue Reading

EU Extends Its Sanctions to New Persons and Entities in Certain Third Countries

In July, following decisions of the Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council, the European Commission lifted the freeze of funds and economic resources sanctions imposed on certain Iraqi entities, including some state owned enterprises (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/979, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1025 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1066).… Continue Reading

European Commission Starts Consultations on Its Guidelines for “Specially Designed for Military Use” Under the Transfer Directive

Directive 2009/43/EC (so-called the “Transfer Directive”) regulates terms and conditions of the transfer of defense-related products within the EU. According to the Transfer Directive, products are subject to licensing requirements to the extent they are “specially designed for military use”. The European Commission, in close cooperation with member states, has undertaken an initiative to clarify the scope of the term “specially designed … Continue Reading

European Commission Published the Updated List of Competent Authorities Under the Kimberley Process, Including Venezuela

The EU updated the list of national authorities participating in the Kimberley Process certification scheme for trade in rough diamonds. The list also includes the competent authorities of Venezuela that were readmitted to participate in this scheme. (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/578)… Continue Reading

Brexit: Developments in Parliament on UK Trade and Sanctions Bills

The UK Trade Bill continued to be debated in the House of Commons with a second reading taking place on 9 January 2018. One of the main contributions of the bill is the establishment of the UK Trade Remedies Authority, an institution responsible for investigations into trade remedies, a responsibility currently assigned to the European … Continue Reading

EU Reaches Agreement on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Directive

On 5 July 2016, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2015/849, which is intended to prevent the financial system from being used for money laundering or terrorist financing. Following negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament, a provisional agreement was … Continue Reading

EU Parliament Adopts Amendments on Dual-Use Items Regulation Proposal

Presented by the European Commission on 28 September 2016, the dual-use items Regulation Proposal aims at reviewing the export control regime of dual-use items. The proposal contains amendments to key export control notions, for example, the amending of the definition of “dual-use” to include cyber-surveillance technologies. It also clarifies controls on intangible technology transfer (ITT) … Continue Reading

CE Marking Post-Brexit

On 10 January 2018, the European Commission published important notice warning of the consequences that Brexit will have in the field of industrial products[1], which are subject to CE Marking requirements when placed on the European Union (EU) market. For those products, the European Commission confirmed that, to demonstrate compliance with CE Marking requirements for … Continue Reading

Commission Updates to EU Control List of Dual-use Items Enter into Force

On 16 December, the European Commission’s updates to the EU dual-use export control list entered into force. On 26 September 2017, the commission adopted the annual Delegated Regulation (2017/2268), which was published in the Official Journal on 15 December, updating the EU dual-use export control list in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 428/2009. The … Continue Reading

UK Government Publishes New Trade Bill

On 7 November, the UK government published the Trade Bill, having introduced it to Parliament for its First Reading. Together with the Customs Bill, it is designed to give the UK the powers necessary to bring existing EU trade agreements into UK statute. The bill also establishes a new independent body called the Trade Remedies … Continue Reading

UK Government Publishes New Trade Bill

On 7 November 2017, the UK Government published the Trade Bill, having introduced it to Parliament for its First Reading. Together with the Customs Bill, it is designed to give the UK the powers necessary to bring existing EU trade agreements into UK statute so that when the UK officially withdraws from the EU, businesses … Continue Reading

European Commission Considers a CFIUS-like Framework for Screening Foreign Investments

On September 13, 2017, the European Commission published the draft of the EU regulation establishing a common European framework for the review of incoming foreign direct investment (FDI), akin to the process in the US administered by Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS).… Continue Reading

Developments Regarding the Revision of the Dual- Use Export Control Regime

On 28 September 2016, the European Commission published its proposal to “modernise and strengthen” the EU’s dual-use export control regime as laid out by Regulation (EC) No. 428/2009. Now that the commissioner’s proposal has been published, it must be examined by the council and the European Parliament. All three must agree in order to adopt … Continue Reading

Update of the European Dual-Use Export Control List

The European Commission has adopted its annual Delegated Regulation that updates the EU dual-use export control list and brings it in line with the decision taken within the framework of the international nonproliferation regimes and export control arrangements. In summary, the majority of the changes, such as the updates of the control of laser measuring systems and a new control … Continue Reading
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